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How to Be More Productive When You Don’t Know Where to Start
We’ve all been there: you sit down, ready to be productive, and then … nothing. There’s a vague sense that something needs to be done, but you’re not sure what. You check your email. Scroll a bit. Suddenly, 45 minutes have vanished, and you still feel stuck. It’s not always laziness or procrastination – often,…
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How the Pomodoro Technique Can Transform Your Productivity
I recently started using an app called Stand Up! in an attempt to reduce the time I spend sitting at my desk. I set the app to ping me a notification every 25 minutes, reminding me to stand for 5 minutes. These numbers didn’t mean anything to me at first, they just felt right, ensuring…
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Approaching Work as a Service: The Productivity Paradigm Shift
When we think about productivity, we often focus on tools, techniques, and time management. But there’s a fundamental mindset shift that can transform your effectiveness: approaching your work as a service. This perspective changes how you view your contributions, priorities, and even your definition of success. Rather than seeing work as a series of tasks…
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Reframing Failure as Data: A Modern Application of John Gardner’s Wisdom
This post is a follow up to my last one, Unlocking Human Potential: Leadership Lessons from John Gardner. John Gardner’s wisdom about human potential finds perfect expression in today’s data-driven world through the concept of reframing failures as valuable information rather than character indictments. Gardner emphasised that most people use only a fraction of their capabilities,…
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Unlocking Human Potential: Leadership Lessons from John Gardner
John W. Gardner (1912-2002) was an American statesman, educator, and public intellectual who served as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson. Beyond his government service, Gardner founded Common Cause, a citizen’s lobbying organisation, and was the author of influential books like Excellence, Self-Renewal, and On Leadership. Throughout his career, he moved…
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Feeling Stuck: A Sign That You’re Ready for Change
Have you ever felt like you’re treading water in your own life, struggling to make meaningful progress, and wondering why you can’t seem to shake that sense of stagnation? I know I have. While it may feel frustrating, this very sensation of being stuck is actually a powerful signal that you’re on the cusp of…
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The Art of Kaizen: Small Changes for Transformative Living
In our fast-paced world of quick fixes and instant results, the Japanese philosophy of kaizen offers a refreshing alternative. This centuries-old concept – which translates to “continuous improvement” – presents a gentler, more sustainable path to personal growth through small, consistent changes that compound over time. What is Kaizen? Kaizen emerged in Japan after World…
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Why Imposter Syndrome Means You’re Growing – And How to Push Through
You’ve just started a new role you were excited to land, but it’s only week two and you’re already feeling it’s too much of a stretch for you. You’re freezing up with anxiety, your confidence in your abilities is rock bottom, and every day you feel like an imposter who’s about to get found out.…